Maine House Rejects Bill to Elect President by Direct Popular Vote

The Maine house defeated legislation that would have Maine join the effort to abolish the electoral college.

Opponents including Farmington republican Rep. Lance Harvell argued Maine would not have presidential candidates like Donald Trump campaigning in the state in the closing days of the election if the electoral college was abolished.

“And one might ask themselves this question, what would bring a Manhattan socialite narcissist to Lisbon, Maine?” asks Harvell. “It wasn’t the national Popular Vote Act, I can tell you that.”

Supporters of the legislation argued the time has come to elect the President based on the direct popular vote and that the electoral college has outlived its usefulness. The measure lost 73-66, but faces further votes.

Read more: http://mainepublic.org/post/maine-house-rejects-bill-elect-president-direct-popular-vote